The year 2022 was the hottest recorded in France.

And 2023 starts in the same vein.

But across Europe, the winter was particularly mild, leaving little room for snowfall, even in the mountains.

Thus, many alpine resorts had to close part or all of their slopes.

Update on the various regions affected, which this week welcome the return of snow and hope to make up for lost time.

Decline in day skiers in Austria

Dozens of stations have lowered the curtain in this Central European country, while others have reduced the sails and lowered the price of packages accordingly.

Reservations have so far resisted the debacle, according to the president of the hotel association Walter Veit, which mainly represents high-end establishments.

However, he warns of a possible pullback in January.

Also note the decline in the number of skiers who came for the day, discouraged by the lack of snow.

Less than half of the slopes open in France

According to Domaines skiables de France (DSF), an organization that represents the operators of the 250 resorts, less than half of the slopes were open last week.

The weather conditions forced the cancellation of certain competitions, such as the 4th stage of the E-Trophée Andros, which was to take place in Tignes (Savoie) on January 13 and 14.


In Ain, the 39th edition of the Retordica sled dog race could not take place, just like in Haute-Savoie, the Telemark World Cup which could be postponed to February.

Half of Swiss domains in reduced activity

Almost half of the 240 ski areas in Switzerland have been forced to stop or reduce their activity.

If those at more than 2,000 meters were able to hold their own thanks to a cold start to the season, the lower altitude resorts suffered more, posting sales of ski lifts down 10% between the end of November and the end of December.

The results of day trips are "mixed", detailed Switzerland Tourism in its first report.

"Swiss tourists had little desire to go spontaneously to the mountains because of the rain, the almost spring-like temperatures and the lack of snow".

Call for help from Italian tour operators

Stations in the north of the country, in the Dolomites, were able to remain open thanks to snowfall in December and the use of cannons.

On the other hand, in the Apennines (center), the doors remained closed due to a too mild climate preventing the use of artificial snow.

Cancellation of hotel reservations, idle ski instructors: tourist operators in these regions launched a call for help last week.

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